Hybrid vehicles

Abstract

Hybrid vehicles having two or more power plants which can be operated independently or simultaneously and includes an electric motor as well as an internal combustion engine which may be selectively connected to drive the drive wheels of such vehicles either independently or simultaneously. When the internal combustion engine is used to drive a vehicle, the waste heat from such engine is utilized as a source of energy to generate electricity which electricity may be stored in suitable storage batteries and thereafter such batteries may be used to drive an electric motor.

I claim: 
     
       1. A hybrid vehicle comprising a frame supported by ground engaging wheels, propelling means including a transmission and drive shaft for driving certain of said wheels, an electric motor mounted on said frame, means for selectively connecting said electric motor to said propelling means, said means for connecting said electric motor to said propelling means for the vehicle including a transfer case having a power shaft connected to said transmission, an internal combustion engine mounted on said frame, means for selectively connecting said internal combustion engine to said power shaft to selectively drive said propelling means, said transfer case further including bypass means operably connecting said internal combustion engine to drive said electric motor to generate electricity while simultaneously disconnecting said internal combustion engine and said electric motor from said propelling means, said internal combustion engine having an exhaust manifold for removing heated exhaust gases therefrom, chamber means communicating with said exhaust manifold for receiving said exhaust gases therefrom, energy conversion means for utilizing the energy of said heated exhaust gases within said chamber means to generate an output which is connected to selectively drive said electric motor, means for electrically connecting said electric motor to at least one storage battery for receiving and storing electrical energy being generated by said electric motor, said storage battery being electrically connected to said electric motor to selectively drive said electric motor when said electric motor is connected to said propelling means, whereby either said internal combustion engine or said electric motor may be selectively operated to propel the vehicle and wherein the storage battery may be charged during operation of the internal combustion engine through the use of the exhaust gases. 
     
     
       2. The invention of claim 1 including a liquid supply tank mounted on said vehicle, means for injecting liquid from said supply tank into said chamber means to convert the liquid to a vapor, a turbine mounted on said vehicle and communicating with said chamber means in a manner to be driven by the vapor therein, override clutch means selectively connecting said electric motor to said turbine, said electric motor generating electrical energy when driven by said turbine. 
     
     
       3. The invention of claim 1 in which said transfer case includes first and second power input shafts, gearing within said transfer case selectively connecting said first and second power input shafts to said power shaft. 
     
     
       4. The invention of claim 1 including a second transmission connected to drive the other of said wheels, said internal combustion engine driving said second transmission for driving said other of said wheels. 
     
     
       5. A four wheel drive hybrid vehicle comprising a frame supported by at least first and second ground engaging wheels, a first propelling means including a first transmission and first drive shaft for driving said first wheels, a second propelling means including a second transmission and a second drive shaft for driving said second wheels, an internal combustion engine mounted on said frame and being connected through said first propelling means to drive said first wheels, said internal combustion engine having an exhaust manifold for discharging heated exhaust gases therefrom, a chamber communicating with said exhaust manifold for receiving said exhaust gases, a liquid supply tank mounted on said vehicle, means for injecting liquid from said supply tank into said chamber where the heated gases convert the liquid to a vapor, a turbine mounted on said vehicle and communicating with said chamber in a manner to be driven by the vapor therein, a electric motor mounted on said frame, means for selectively connecting either or both of said electric motor and said turbine to said second propelling means to selectively drive said second wheels, said means for selectively connecting either or both of said turbine or said electric motor including bypass means for selectively disconnecting said electric motor and said turbine from said second propelling means and connecting said turbine means to drive said electric motor as a generator, and at least one means for storing electrical energy electrically connected to said electric motor which may be used to drive said electric motor when said electric motor is connected to said second propelling means and which may alternatively receive electrical energy from said electrical motor when said electric motor is driven as a generator through said bypass means by said turbine.